What is a Solar battery?
A solar battery is an energy storage option for those with
solar panel systems. With the increased use of
solar power,
solar batteries are more popular with homeowners who want to offset electricity costs and those living or camping off-grid.
Solar generators and portable
solar chargers are types of solar battery storage systems. While solar generators are typically affixed to their location — usually houses, campers or boats — a portable solar charger is a smaller, often hand-held device typically used to charge phones or other electronics. Some solar generators are available as all-in-one kits, but you can buy components separately as well.
Solar batteries can be installed alongside your solar panel system to store the excess energy it produces. When the panels don't produce power at night, you can use the stored energy instead. Many solar battery storage options come with an inverter to convert the stored DC power to the AC power you need, but some require you to buy the inverter separately.
You can then use it as a solar battery generator to power electricity needs. This helps people looking to mitigate electricity costs, prepare for disasters or be completely off-grid. Homes still on the electrical grid can offset their consumption with backup energy and run on battery power until the storage is depleted.
The amount of electricity a solar battery can deliver at once is measured in kilowatts (kW). Kilowatt-hours (kWh) refer to the total amount of energy utilized over an hour. For example: the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) states the average American home consumes 901 kWh per month, or 30 kWh a day. With a battery that provides 2.5 kWh, you would need 12 batteries for sufficient daily power.
Since solar batteries self-discharge, the stored solar energy depletes over time. The rate of self-discharge depends on the type and age of the battery. Newer
Lithium solar batteries typically self-discharge at a rate of 1% to 1.5% per month, whereas older batteries could self-discharge by as much as 2% per week.
Residential solar panel arrays don’t usually require solar batteries. Still, solar panel battery storage lowers your utility bills, protects you from power outages and reduces your carbon footprint. If you already have solar panels, solar batteries work to store energy for the future.
Popular Solar brands like EverExceed have different
solar battery technologies and models to support your residential or commercial needs, which we will discuss in the upcoming week.
